Gene Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer

The expansive realm of gene therapy holds the potential for groundbreaking treatments that could play a crucial role in averting cancer-related fatalities. This opinion article delves into the history, notable achievements, and future prospects of three distinct approaches in gene therapy treatment: immunotherapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and gene transfer. Immunotherapy employs genetically modified cells and viral particles to activate the immune system, prompting it to eliminate cancer cells. Recent clinical trials of second and third-generation vaccines have demonstrated promising outcomes across various cancers, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and malignant melanoma. Oncolytic virotherapy, an emerging treatment modality, utilizes viral particles that replicate within cancer cells, inducing cell death. Particularly noteworthy is its potential efficacy against metastatic cancers, as evidenced by encouraging results from initial phase I trials involving several vectors, generating enthusiasm for the potency of this technique. Gene transfer, another innovative treatment approach, introduces new genes into cancerous cells or the surrounding tissue, leading to cell death or the deceleration of cancer growth. This method showcases remarkable flexibility, with a diverse array of genes and vectors undergoing successful clinical trials, marking a significant stride in the pursuit of effective cancer treatments.